6 Health Threats Hiding in Your Makeup Bag
The biggest culprits of contamination—and how to clean them today!
Before you slather on your favorite shade of red lipstick or apply the same mascara you've been loving for the last three months, you may want to think twice. Hidden threats are hiding in your makeup bag that could be hazardous to your health. Besides contamination from germs and daily dirt and grime, we also have to worry about potential allergens and scary chemicals that have been linked to cancer, respiratory illness, and even birth defects.
Read on for six health threats that could be hiding in your go-to cosmetics.
5. Sharing Products
It may seem harmless to share makeup with a friend—until you read this. Sharing makeup is essentially swapping germs, especially when it comes to anything that gets applied on lips or eyes. And the effects can be much worse than your run-of-the-mill cold sore.
“If you are diabetic or have a compromised immune system, infections are more severe and can lead to severe consequences,” Dr. Haffizulla says. “Most common infections involve the eye in the form of blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid), conjunctivitis (pink eye), and sty formation. The skin can also react with pustular infections."
